KAJIADO, Kenya — ODM Party Leader Oburu Odinga has defended the government’s push to finance development projects through locally generated resources, arguing that increased domestic borrowing offers a sustainable path toward Kenya’s long-term financial independence.
Speaking on Sunday during a church development fundraiser attended by President William Ruto and other leaders in Kajiado County, Oburu said Kenya must rethink its financing model if it hopes to reduce the burden associated with external debt and foreign interest payments.
The event was organized by the South Nairobi Kajiado Field Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Conference to support plans for the construction of a school, chapel, hospital, and conference centre within the Nkarusa community.
According to Oburu, the proposed development project has the potential to transform livelihoods by improving access to education, healthcare, and social services.
“The church’s ambitious vision to construct a school, chapel, hospital, and conference center within the same compound is a transformative blueprint that will immensely uplift the Nkarusa community,” he said.
The senator praised President Ruto for attending the fundraiser and described Kajiado as a region that reflects Kenya’s diversity and national unity.
Beyond the church project, Oburu used the platform to advance his views on public finance and development. He argued that Kenya should increasingly mobilise resources from within the country rather than relying heavily on foreign lenders.
“As a Finance and Planning expert, I firmly believe that achieving financial independence requires shifting our borrowing model. By borrowing from within, we drastically reduce the heavy burden of foreign interest payments,” he said.
He pointed to initiatives such as the Infrastructure Fund and the Housing Levy as examples of mechanisms designed to mobilise local resources for development.
Oburu said such programmes were intended to create long-term economic benefits while reducing dependence on external financing.
The debate has intensified ahead of the implementation of the 2026/27 national budget, with critics warning about rising debt-servicing costs and growing pressure on public finances. Treasury figures show that debt repayment continues to consume a significant share of government expenditure.
Supporters of the government’s approach, however, maintain that carefully managed borrowing and investment are necessary to address historical development gaps and stimulate economic activity.
At the fundraiser, leaders emphasized the role of partnerships between government, faith-based organisations and local communities in advancing development goals.
Oburu said Kenya’s journey toward what he described as “First World status” would depend on building sustainable economic models capable of funding national priorities while expanding opportunities for ordinary citizens.
